Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Events

Lecture: High-Speed Rail in the United States: Can the Dream Be Realized?

Remarks by Allison L. C. de Cerreño, Ph.D.
Director, NYU Wagner Rudin Center for Transportation Policy and Management
New York University

Many European and Asian countries have implemented or plan to implement high-speed rail (HSR) and/or Maglev. Though U.S. efforts have spanned 40 years, nothing comparable has been implemented in the United States to date. This presentation is based on the findings of two studies funded by the Mineta Transportation Institute that used a combination of literature review and interviews to derive lessons from the U.S. experience. Touching on the Chicago Hub, the Florida, Keystone, and Northeast Corridors, this presentation suggests that several factors are critical to success of HSR projects, while lack of them has led to repeated failures. Based on the research, this paper questions whether the two limited U.S. successes can be replicated without ownership of the right of way by a single passenger rail entity and whether incremental HSR efforts are more likely to succeed in the current political climate.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Christmas Sockings: Carl Heastie and Andrea Stewart-Cousins Say ‘No’ to Better Transit

The transit world is reeling this week after the two legislative leaders put a block on the MTA's capital plan.

December 26, 2024

Streetsies 2024: Vote For This Year’s Biggest Failures

Overall, it was a pretty sad year. But what was the city and state's worst failures? You get to vote!

December 26, 2024

Streetsies 2024: Vote for this Year’s Best Livable Streets Projects

This year had some bright spots for livable streets projects. Here are the ones that stood out.

December 26, 2024

Thursday’s Headlines: Christmukkah Edition

We took yesterday off to celebrate the many holidays and to see the new Bob Dylan movie. But there was lots of news.

December 26, 2024

On Christmas, Let’s Consider the Successes of the Livable Streets Movement

Here's a short, heartwarming film about the successes experienced this year by the livable streets movement.

December 25, 2024
See all posts